Christian doctors practice on the frontlines of tensions over gender dysphoria and transition. CT agreed not to use the name of one\u2014call him Dr. J\u2014because he doesn\u2019t want protesters filling his northeastern US waiting room. What\u2019s key: Dr. J resists a busy doctor\u2019s pressure to rush through an appointment. Instead, he begins with mundane but essential questions about the patient\u2019s social and familial history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019ll say, \u201cTalk to me about what\u2019s happened. What brought you to this place in life?\u201d When patients express dissatisfaction with their status as men or women, Dr. J doesn\u2019t suggest transitioning. Instead, he asks questions: \u201cWho lives at home? How are your relationships? What do you do for a living? Have you experienced past abuse?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. J said it\u2019s \u201cabout loving patients well, caring for them well, seeing them with God\u2019s eyes.\u201d Good questions help patients open up about their reasons for detaching from their male or female identity. They can form a bridge to help patients move beyond seeing medical transition as the answer to past trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. J. lives out what the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) call \u201cwinsome advocacy<\/a>.\u201d CMDA senior vice president Jeff Barrows calls for encouraging \u201cmeaningful dialogue\u201d that could lead to changed opinions. Dr. J offers medical and scriptural arguments: He explains to patients requesting gender transition hormones that\u00a0up to 85 percent of youth<\/a>\u00a0experiencing gender dysphoria later move beyond it and also encourages them to consider God\u2019s design for their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n